Adolescence is among the most important stages of development. At this phase, individuals undergo physical and psychological changes that transition them from childhood into adulthood. For a few adolescents, this transition occurs seamlessly. However, for a vast majority of individuals, adolescence is more complex as there are numerous changes that they experience. In addition to the physical and psychological transformations, they also witness changes in their behaviors as they struggle to define their position in society. The question of adolescence has been explored in literature extensively. The Catcher in Rye by J.D. Salinger (1951) and John Updike’s (1961) A&P are among the texts which shed light on the dynamics of adolescence. These two texts adopt differing perspectives on the reality of adolescence. However, using plot, setting and character interactions, the readings present adolescence as a moment of confusion, experimentation and a desperate attempt to establish an identity.
Character interactions are among the tools that are usually relied on for such elements of literary works as character development and to shed light on individual characters. John Updike uses the interactions among the three girls expertly to show how adolescence is a period defined by confusion. The narrator describes how the girls relied on one of them, the Queen, for direction and leadership. He notes that “she was the queen. She kind of led them, the other two peeking around and making their shoulders round” (Updike 1). The girls had visited the store for the simple task of purchasing some supplies. Given how easy this task should be, it is surprising that two of the girls looked to the Queen for guidance. It can be argued that Updike presented the interactions among the girls with the primary goal of highlighting the confusion that surrounds adolescence. Adolescents simply lack the insight, experience and wisdom to make their own decisions. Instead, they rely on others who are equally incompetent to lead them. Sammy, the narrator in A&P also uses his interactions with his boss to highlight the confusion that plagues adolescents. Whereas his age is not revealed, it is fair to assume that he is a teenager given that it is mentioned that he is not married and in nearly the entire short story, he describes his immense admiration for the two girls. These behaviors are typical of adolescents. As the story nears its conclusion, Sammy decides to quit his job without having a proper plan in place. He declares “I said I quit” and confesses that after leaving his job “my stomach kind of fell as I felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter” (p. 5). Sammy was driven to quit because he hoped that by defending the girls, he would gain their favor. His behavior is reckless and rather stupid and represents the confusion that characterizes adolescence. Those at this stage of development lack the insight to make the right decisions.
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Attempting to develop an identity is another element of adolescence. This stage imposes pressure on individuals to define who they are. For most adolescents, the identity formation process involves defying norms and following the example set by their peers. The identity formation process is highlighted in A&P through the plot and setting. Updike must have been deliberate when he selected the A&P store as the platform for the events in the short story. This store is indeed symbolic as it allows the dynamics of adolescence to be revealed. As Sammy, the narrator notes, “store's pretty empty, it being Thursday afternoon, so there was nothing much to do except lean on the register and wait for the girls to show up again” (p. 3). Through these statements, Sammy suggests that the store was selected so that adolescence, personified through the three girls could be highlighted. The emptiness of the store allowed for the confusion and defiance of the girls to become manifest. A different setting would probably fail to provide a platform for the intrigues and dynamics of adolescence to be displayed. It is at the store that the three girls show up in nothing but their bathing suits and proceed to command the attention of other shoppers and the register attendants. Essentially, the empty A&P store serves as an ideal setting for Updike to spotlight the defining features of adolescence.
Experimentation has already been identified as the features that define adolescence. Adolescents tend to defy norms and experiment with behaviors that are either dangerous or unacceptable. To highlight the role that experimentation plays in adolescence, A&P relies mostly on plot. This short story follows three girls as they move around the store and interact with the attendants manning the registers. Experimentation mostly takes the form of the clothing that the girls have worn. As already noted, they wear bathing suits which grab the attention of those in the store. Their choice of clothing is indeed unconventional and is clearly intended to show that adolescents tend to violate established norms as they attempt to determine their position and worth in society.
A&P combines different literary devices to underline the components that constitute adolescence. The same devices are incorporated into the Catcher in the Rye to challenge readers to recognize that as they go through adolescents, individuals grapple with confusion, embrace experimentation and attempt to mold their identity. This story focuses on the experiences of Holden Caulfield, an adolescent boy who struggles with such issues as academics and sexuality. Throughout the story, Caulfield interacts with various other characters and these interactions allow the dynamics of adolescence to be revealed. Spencer, Caulfield’s English teacher is among the characters with whom he engages. During a visit to Spencer’s house, Caulfield is reprimanded for his disappointing academic performance and subsequent expulsion from school: “"What's the matter with you, boy?" old Spencer said” (p. 6). Spencer laments that despite having good parents, Caulfield is defiant and ill-mannered. Instead of responding with politeness, Caulfield’s replies are laden with arrogance and disrespect. Caulfied records that “He started going into this nodding routine. You never saw anybody nod as much in your life as old Spencer did. You never knew if he was nodding a lot because he was thinking and all, or just because he was a nice old guy that didn't know his ass from his elbow” (p. 4). His behavior is a reflection of the realities of adolescence. As they try to find their place, adolescents are often involved in ugly conflicts, especially with their seniors. In the story, Caulfield is drawn into needless and ugly arguments with such other people as his sister who chastises him for his recklessness and his various love interests who find him too young and irresponsible. It is clear that Salinger relies on the interactions between Caulfield and other characters with the goal of showing that confusion and defiance are essential components of adolescence.
Experimentation and a quest for identity have been identified as among the issues that many adolescents experience. These issues are evident in the life of Caulfield and are highlighted using plot and setting. Caulfield’s experiences occur in a wide variety of settings. For example, some of the experiences take place at school while others occur during his visit to Spencer’s house. Other events take place in taxis while his apartment serves as the setting for some of the experiences. It can be argued that in setting the different events at different places, Salinger was driven by the need to highlight experimentation. Caulfield moved from one place to another as part of his attempts to experiment with different experiences. While at school, his experiences largely involved academic pursuits. While in the taxis, he was able to engage the drivers whom he annoyed with his questions. He also attended parties at which he interacted with women with whom he had hoped and failed to establish sexual relationships. Basically, Caulfield moved wherever he thought that his life would provide meaning. As the story concludes, Caulfield suggests that there are other experiences that he has not described in the narrative: That's all I'm going to tell about. I could probably tell you what I did after I went home, and how I got sick and all, and what school I'm supposed to go to next fall, after I get out of here, but I don't feel like it” (p. 114). These words indicate that by visiting different places, Caulfied was able to engage in exhilarating adventures. His life is representative of the typical experiences of adolescents who seem obsessed with experimentation.
The pursuit of identity is another theme that emerges as one reads Salinger’s work. It is clear that the different experiments that Caulfield engages in are all in an attempt to determine and build his identity. For instance, there is an instance where he describes himself as an attractive young man whom ladies should find to be irresistible: “In my mind, I'm probably the biggest sex maniac you ever saw” (p. 34). There are other moments when he regards himself as hopelessly unattractive and without much confidence. The series of events across the entire story show a young man who struggles to establish his place. While he is a young boy who should concern himself with studies, he imposes on himself the pressures of adulthood by seeking women and adventure. In summary, Salinger uses the plot to show Caulfield’s journey that he hopes will lead to a solid identity.
In conclusion, adolescence remains one of the most complex periods in the lives of individuals. At this phase, individuals attempt to abandon their childish ways and embrace the maturity that comes with adulthood. However, as A&P and The Catcher in the Rye reveal, many adolescents encounter challenges that derail the development process. The challenges range from confusion to difficulty in determining one’s identity and sense of worth. One of the key lessons that can be gained from the two stories is that adolescents need the guidance and support of adults to navigate the complexities of their lives.
References
Salinger, J. D. (1951). The catcher in the rye. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.
Updike, J. (1961). A&P. Retrieved February 19, 2019 from http://brainstorm-services.com/wcu-2004/A&P.pdf
